San Francisco County CA Biography Project

John Dolbeer (1827-1902)

John Dolbeer was born in Epsom March 12, 1827, the son of Nicholas Dolbeer and Esther Chase of New Rye. The Dolbeer's were important citizens in Epsom right through the turn of the century, including his uncle Jonathan, who left a diary listing the deaths in Epsom from 1819 to 1854, which was carried on by Calvin, brother to the John Dolbeer of this sketch. A product of Epsom schools, he left the family farm in 1850 at the age of 23 and set out to the California gold rush to make his fortune. By 1853 he had made connections in the Humboldt Bay area to establish the Bay Mill. Through failure and fires he survives and by 1864 teams with William Carson to form the Dolbeer and Carson Lumber Company. The company grows, and John Dolbeer becomes one of the most famous and influential personages in the Redwood industry in the State of California. His several patents showed his ingenuity in problem solving, and he had an impact in all facets of the industry, from the actual lumbering operation itself, to transporting and exporting - even owning the barks and brigs to bring the lumber to worldwide markets. Among his most useful and successful patents was that for the spool or steam donkey. This machine simply was a steam engine mounted on a wooden skid which would enable loggers to move giant longs across long distances to adjacent railways. In 1872, late in life, he married Harriet Schander, and in 1873 his son, Chase Dolbeer was born. He established his home on Lombard Street in San Francisco. Four years later, in 1877, the Dolbeers had their daughter, Bertha. Business continued to thrive, despite the fact that the Dolbeer & Carson Bay Mill burned down twice. It is about the time of the second fire that the personal life of Jonathan Dolbeer turns tragic. In 1879, Harriet commits suicide, and was called by the San Francisco Call "a suffering invalid" and in 1886, his son Chase was thrown from a wagon and died at the age of 13. John Dolbeer died in San Francisco from a heart ailment on August 17, 1902. The bulk of his estate went to his lone surviving daughter Bertha, and was worth nearly one million dollars. Additional sums were given to several charities, and relatives in Epsom, including his niece Ellen Dolbeer Hall (daughter of his brother Calvin) and her husband, Charles Sumner Hall. His family endured yet a final tragedy when on July 9, 1904, his daughter Bertha committed suicide at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, putting the battle for the estate in the California Courts through 1908
.
Despite all the personal troubles, John Dolbeer left a lasting legacy in the redwood industry of California which continues to this day. His legacy in Epsom comes from a visit to his home in 1900. At the time, Epsom was searching for a new library building, and J.H. Dolbeer was on the library committee, which met during John Dolbeer's visit, and at which he was in attendance for a meeting. He offered, if the town would build, to furnish all the redwood lumber they would need to complete a building, inside and out. Well, the land was donated by Charles Sumner Hall, and Mr. Dolbeer was true to his word, and the current Epsom Public Library became a legacy to the town in which this respected and much admired person was born.

Biography Contributed by:
David B Harrison

A - K			L - Z
A	Vol #	Page #	L	Vol #	Page #
Ach, Henry	ii	334	La Brie, G.	i	566
Acker, N. A.	ii	587	La Rue, James,	ii	44
Adam, George	ii	317	Labadie, E. L.	i	708
Adams, A. C.	ii	85	Lachman, S. & Co	i	680
Adams, J. S.	ii	41	Lainer, Charles	ii	366
Agard, A. H.	i	415	Lake, Mary	i	612
Alexander, Henry	ii	643	Lancaster. A. V.	ii	223
Allen, John J.	ii	296	Lane, F. J.	i	679
Allen, T. H.	ii	472	Lane, Wm. E.	ii	597
Almy, Joseph	ii	60	Lanktree, J. B.	ii	247
Ames, Almon	ii	533	Lash, Lee	ii	173
Ames, Fisher	ii	507	Laton, C. A.	ii	511
Anderson, J. A.	ii	78	Lawler, F. W.	i	610
Anderson, J. W.	ii	326	Lawler, James	i	558
Anderson, R. S.	ii	116	Lawson, J S.	ii	457
Andros, M.	ii	296	Lawtence, G. E.	ii	300
Angellotti, F. M.	ii	257	Le Tourneux, T. J.	ii	408
Arillaga, S.	ii	167	Leavy, C. M.	ii	356
Armes & Dallam	ii	425	Lee, G. W	ii	539
Armistend, H. V.	ii	13	Leekie, R S.	ii	101
Armitage, W. H.	i	689	Leffler, J	ii	48
Armstrong, Abe	i	623	Lejeal, A. F.	ii	163
Armstrong, R.	i	607	Lelong, B. M.	ii	335
Arnold, A. B.	i	629	Levy, Solomon	ii	98
Arnold, C. M.	ii	278	Levy, W. H.	ii	337
Arnold, J. D.	i	538	Lewelling, John	ii	68
Artigues, J. E.	i	574	Lezinsky, G.	ii	99
Ash, Robert	i	621	Lichau, Ernest	i	526
Ashworth, P.	i	628	Liddle, Robert	ii	540
Azevedo, M. S.	ii	62	Lippitt, E. S.	ii	454
			Lisser, Louis	ii	490
B			Little, W.	ii	563
Babson, Seth	ii	139	Little, Wm. C.	ii	422
Bachman, N. S.	ii	144	Locke, C. W.	ii	85
Bacigalupi, T.	ii	418	Logan, H. J.	i	607
Backus, O. J.	ii	630	Logan, John	ii	541
Backus, S. W.	ii	365	Logan, M. H.	ii	89
Bacon, Alice	ii	447	Long, S. F.	ii	46
Badger, W. G.	ii	416	Long, W. G.	ii	146
Baker, Abijah	ii	392'	Loomis, W. H.	ii	571
Baker, G. G.	ii	309	Loud, E: F	i	526
Baker, G. W.	ii	515	Louderback, Davis	i	448
Baldwin, A. O.	ii	227	Loughborough, A. H.	ii	19
Ballard, Laura A. S.	ii	59	Love, Minnie C. T.	i	573
Barbat, J. H.	i	647	Lovell, Sidney	ii	462
Barber, A. S.	i	485	Lubbock, H. S.	ii	328
Barber, J. B.	i	581	Ludovici, F. W	ii	403
Barbs, G. G.	ii	664	Ludovici, J.	i	510
Bardwell, J. L.	ii	516	Lund, K. Henry	ii	30
Barker, J. L.	ii	322	Lunna, Romulo	ii	421
Barker, P. L.	ii	282	Lutgen, John	ii	175
Barlow, C. B., Miss	ii	489	Lux, F. W.	ii	622
Barnes, W. S.	ii	611	Lyons, T. J.	i	617
Barr, Fannie, Mrs.	ii	156
Barrow, Jennie E	ii	131	M
Barth, Emit	ii	409	MacDonald, A J.	ii	476
Bartlett, Columbus	i	528	Macdonald, D. A.	ii	420
Bates, J. C.	ii	141	Macdonald, J. A. C.	ii	544
Baumeister, H.	i	522	Mackintosh, R.	ii	117
Bazan, F.	i	616	Maclean, D.	ii	42
Bazet, Louis	ii	40	Maclise, James	i	471
Beatty, W. A.	i	426	Macpherson, A. M.	ii	106
Bee, F. A.	ii	491	Macy, M. C.	ii	149
Belcher, E. A	ii	16	Magill, R H., Jr.	ii	211
Bellrude, J. S	i	595	Magill, R. H.	ii	136
Bemis, C. C.	i	696	Magnus, M.	i	646
Benedict, B.	i	559	Mahoney, W. H.	ii	292
Benson, C. H.	ii	310	Mallon, John	ii	414
Bergen, B. F.	i	500	Mann, C M.	ii	424
Berges & Domeniconi	i	508	Mansfeldt, H.	ii	445
Bert, E. F	i	452	Marconnay, A de	ii	603
Berteling, L. A.	ii	263	Marcy, W. G.	i	123
Bettancurt, J. E.	i	598	Martin, C. S.	ii	562
Bew, G. H.	ii	552	Martin, C.	i	504
Bianchi, E.	ii	105	Martin, D. W.	i	492
Birkholm, H. H.	ii	459	Martin, G. H	ii	163
Bishop, A. W.	ii	253	Martinoni & Podesta	ii	424
Black, Wm.	ii	667, 672	Mathias, Charles	ii	212
Blair, Walter	ii	232	Matthews, J M.	ii	412
Blake, M. C.	ii	316	Mattner, E. H.	i	608
Blakeney, T. J.	i	524	Mauzy, Byron	ii	131
Blanchard, A. F.	i	686	Mayo, H. B.	i	496
Blanding, E. J.	ii	590	McAlie, Wm.	i	542
Blattner, W. J.	ii	126	McAllister, W. F. M.	ii	626
Blood, J. N.	ii	185	McAvoy, J. C.	ii	537
Blood, W. H.	ii	576	McBride, H. E.	i	575
Bluxome, Isaac	i	586	McCall, J. G.	ii	558
Boluud, J. I	i	445	McCarron Bros	ii	585
Boelemer, F.	ii	577	McCarthy, D. O.	i	457
Boericke, Wm.	i	490	McCarthy, W. D.	ii	259
Bolte, Jeanne	ii	119	McCash, C. A.	ii	677
Bonelli, E S.	ii	192	McCeney, J. C.	i	578
Bonoeau, T. S.	ii	312	McChesney, J. B.	ii	198
Boone, J. L	i	684	McCollum, J. L.	ii	667
Booth, A. G.	i	98	McCormick, J. T.	ii	565
Borden, Rhodes	ii	225	McDonald, A.	ii	476
Bosworth, H. M.	ii	357	McDonald, J. T	i	573
Botsford, Wm.	i	556	McDonell, P. A.	ii	118
Boushey, J.	ii	261	McElroy,J. P.	ii	207
Bovee, Wm. H.	ii	342	McFarland, T. B,	i	650
Bovo, Gabriel	ii	597	McFarlin, H.	ii	189
Boxton, Charles	i	532	McFarling, J.	ii	28
Boyd, J. T.	i	448	McGovern, A. J.	ii	28l
Boyd, Robert	i	643	McGowan, T A.	ii	589
Bradbury, O. F.	i	562	McGraw, E. W.	ii	303
Bradway, J. R.	ii	50	McJunkin, H. K.	i	451
Brady, W. J.	ii	378	McKenzie, M., Miss	ii	490
Brandon, F. D.	ii	259	McKinley, D. A	i	421
Brandt, H.	ii	668	McKisick, L. D.	ii	371
Bree, Thomas W.	ii	554	McMonagle, B.	ii	644
Bridges, M. M.	i	565	McMullen, J.	ii	400
Brittan, W. G.	ii	601	McNevin, Edmund	ii	161
Bromley, J. L	ii	126	McPike, H. C.	ii	288
Bromwell, L. L.	i	436	McQuesten, Charles	i	645
Brosnahan, C. H.	ii	552	Mee, James	ii	75
Browell, J.	ii	313	Meek, Aaron	ii	118
Brown, A. V.	ii	249	Meeker, W. A.	ii	505
Brown, C. A.	i	590	Meese, Hermann	ii	308
Brown, H. R.	i	649	Metson, Wm. H.	ii	307
Brown, H. S.	i	605	Mefret, X.	ii	388
Brown, J. A.	i	601	Melvin, S. H.	ii	293
Brown, R. W.	ii	566	Merrell, J. M.	ii	528
Bruns, D. H.	i	562	Merriman, A. F., & Son	i	437
Bryan, W. J.	i	695	Merritt, Samuel	i	378
Buckley, V. P.	ii	305	Merry, Wm. L	ii	429
Bucknail, O. J.	ii	619	Mhoon, J. B.	i	481
Budde, Joseph	ii	669	Millberry, A. H.	ii	148
Buffington, J. M.	i	668	Miller, Adam	ii	539
Bull, F. P.	i	592	Miller, H. B. M	ii	227
Bunker, R. E.	ii	74	Miller, James	ii	202
Burdick, S. P	ii	393	Miller, W. N.	ii	523
Burgess, G. H.	ii	184	Millington, J.	ii	578
Burgess, O. O.	ii	229	Moffitt, F. J.	ii	86
Burke, Lizzie, Mrs.	ii	473	Monckton, F. D.	ii	395
Burnham, J. W.	i	706	Montanya, J.de la	ii	430
Burton, B. T.	i	625	Moody, Mary M.	ii	677
Bush, C. G.	i	533	Moore G. A.	ii	161
Bush, C. S	ii	135	Moore Hayes & Co.	i	668
Bush, W. N.	ii	264	Moore, Calvin	ii	85
Buteau, S. H.	ii	608	Moore, Joseph	i	431
Butler & Halden	ii	391	Moorhead, S. P.	i	635
Byxbee, R G.	ii	415	Morffew, T.	i	534
			Morgan, Bartlett	ii	679
C			Morgan, Ben	ii	309
Cahill, James	i	281	Morgan, T. W.	ii	216
Cain, P. P.	i	549	Morgenthal, A.	ii	302
Calegaris, J.	ii	497	Morrill, A. L.	i	638
Callaghan, J. D.	i	689	Morris, J. W.	ii	657
Callahan, D. T.	ii	267	Morrow, W.W.	ii	471
Callandreau, J.	ii	265	Morton, Frank	ii	463
Campbell, J. C	ii	274	Morton, H. D.	ii	530
Campbell, M., Mrs.	ii	318	Morton, J. M	ii	120
Camron, W. W.	ii	219	Morton, John	ii	401
Cane, Alfred	i	616	Mosher, J. L.	i	563
Canep, Peter	ii	520	Mott, H. C.	ii	653
Capron, J. S	ii	647	Moulder, A. J.	ii	358
Carbone, Joseph	ii	513	Mowry, L. i	ii	266
Card, C. W.	ii	122	Mueller, Jacob	i	572
Carey, J. T.	i	648	Muguire, J. G.	i	473
Carleton, C. B.	ii	527	Muhr, H. A.	ii	80
Carlson, C.	ii	311	Muir, J. S.	ii	58
Carlson, C. H.	ii	338	Muller, John	ii	423
Carpenter, Tom	ii	292	Murasky, F. J.	i	585
Carr, J. D.	ii	508	Murphy, D. J.	i	645
Carranza, V. A.	ii	408	Murphy, Grant & Co.	ii	95
Carter, Thomas	i	498	Murphy, James D.	ii	485
Casassa, Charles	i	564	Murray, T. J.	ii	559
Caswell, T. H.	ii	623	Myers, Andrew	ii	32
Cavagnaro, J. F.	ii	59
Chalfant, S. P.	i	633	N
Chandler, I. H., Mrs.	ii	139	Narjot, E.	ii	456
Chandler, J. F.	ii	609	Nash, Hamlin	ii	170
Chapman, E. C.	ii	615	Nathan, Dohrman & Co	ii	650
Chapman, M. C.	ii	612	Nelson, Wm. F.	i	692
Chapman, W. H	ii	180	Neumann, L.	ii	231
Chase, George	ii	285	Newman, S.	i	639
Chase, Q. A.	ii	451	Nichols, A. C.	ii	524
Chesley, C P.	ii	94	Nicholson, I. E.	i	568
Childs, Elmer	ii	253	Nightingale, J.	i	564
Chinda, V.	ii	101	Noblett, Robert	ii	518
Chismore, George	i	455	Norcross, Daniel	ii	488
Chretien, J. M.	ii	27	Nordwell, O. W.	ii	485
Christenson, G. A.	i	622	Norgrove, John	ii	474
Christieson, J. P.	ii	247	Nunes, J. S	i	614
Church, E. B.	ii	473	Nusbaumer, E.	ii	648
Church, L. S.	i	693	Nusbaumer, G. L.	ii	347
Church, R. W.	i	692	Nutting, Calvin	ii	166
Clark, J. J.	i	638	Nye, S. G.	ii	230
Clarke, Alfred	ii	343
Clarke, B. F.	ii	618	O
Clarke, J. J.	ii	636	O'Brien, J. P.	ii	310
Clement, H. N.	i	599	O'Brien, T.	i	637
Clerc, P. F.	ii	193	O'Brien, Thomas	i	424
Cleveland, A.	ii	121	O'Brien, Wm. Smith	ii	134
Cleveland, E. A., Miss	i	480	O'Callaghan, D.	ii	169
Clinton, C. A.	ii	435	O'Connor, J.	i	643
Cobb, H A.	ii	333	O'Connor, P J.	i	656
Cobb, M. G.	ii	84	O'Donnell, J. E	ii	312
Cochran, J. P.	ii	656	O'Farrell, J. J.	ii	640
Cochran, J. W.	ii	379	Ogden, F. B.	i	641
Cochrane, E. O.	ii	81	Olney, Elbert	i	449
Cochrane, J. W.	ii	379	O'Neill, P. J.	ii	75
Coffey, J. F.	i	489	O'Neill, Wm	ii	26
Coffey, J. J.	ii	26	Orr, F. A.	ii	675
Collins, D. E.	ii	417	Osborn, R F.	ii	676
Collins, G. D.	i	456	Osgood Bros.	ii	594
Collins, William	ii	417	Overacker, C. B.	ii	665
Cook, A. S.	ii	52	Overend, E. J.	i	561
Cook, C. H.	ii	101
Cook, Carroll	i	511	P
Cook, F. S.	i	639	Palmeri, E. C.	ii	54
Cook, G. W. F.	i	514	Pardee, G. C.	ii	320
Cool, Lou, Mrs.	i	531	Parker, O. W.	i	611
Cool, R. H.	ii	530	Parrish, N.	i	516